The song Pity and Fear by Harvey Danger is a commentary on the struggles and pressures of being a great man in society. The lyrics reference historical figures like Pericles and Socrates, who were both leaders and intellectuals in ancient Greece. While Pericles brought democracy to Athens, Socrates was punished for speaking his mind and eventually sentenced to death. The narrator of the song is portrayed as someone who is irreverent and doesn't conform to societal norms. The narrator is speaking about someone who they look up to and consider their tragic hero. They ask if this person knows how great they truly are and how their story will be remembered. The narrator also talks about a conversation they had in a conference room, where someone warned them against the negativity and irony that is common in their generation. They tell the narrator to center their gravity and be a protégé. Ultimately, the song is a commentary on the pressures of being a great man in society, and how their story is often told through tragedy and misfortune. The narrator speaks about how every subscriber and advertiser will know the true greatness of their tragic hero.
